The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-07
SECRETARY ENDICOTT.
A Result of the Rebel-Flag Biunder--Hc Con-
ciudes to Snub the Press.

A Result of the Rebel-Flag Biunder--Hc Con-
ciudes to Snub the Press.
Washington Special.
Secretary Endicott has followed his recon-
mendaton to the President about the return of
the captured flags with perfectly logical order.
He has directed Colonel Lazslle, the successor Of
Colonel Scott as compiler of the war records.
not to give out any further information unless
the matter is first submitted to him. The Secre-
tary has suspended orders for furnishing in
formation which has been given without question
by every Secretary Of War and Adiutant-general
since General Grants administration. The sus-
pension applies to matter which has been already
prepared for printing under the order Of Con-
gress, and which, by universal practice. is always
open to the press from the time the order for
printing is made.
There Is not the excuse which there might
we'll have been while Colonel Scott was at work
collecting the vast material for tho war history,
that to make copies would delay his work, for
the selection and chronological arrangement OF
material is now done, and to furnish Information
merely requires taking down bundle and al
lowing the applicant to look for himself Col.
Scott proceeded upon the theory that he was do
ing work for the public and under the order
OF Congress-, and he was prompt to respond
to all proper requests for access the records.
Nothing has occurred to call Mr. Endicotts
attention to this matter except the publication
of the history of flags captured by Union sol
Giers and the related matter His order for pre-
venting to the records based
Upon the nag matter, ana was solely lnclteQ oy
it. He knows more about his proper
thority in this matter than he knows of the law
covering the flags. Congress has ordered the
war record publication The great bulk of it is
ready for the printer. Mr.. Endicott, by trying
to delay and suppress it for some time to come
is simply revoking the order of Congress He
does not even know that ex-confederates are
even more interested in having these records
made public than the veterans of the North, be-
cause while the North had fair access to its rec
ords during the war, those at the South were, in
the main. sealed book.
Mr. Endicott's order is his method of getting
even with the press for exploding his attempt to
return the flags, and publishing out of his office
the record of these trophies The whole thing
is of a piece with the flag order, and entirely
worthy of the Secretary. If the North is to be
denied access to its records except as Mr..
Endicott sees fit to allow what Congress has or
dersd made public to 60 out. it cannot be fully
understood toe
The probabilities that at the next session
Congress will take charge of the war records
The joint committee on printing will have two
ex. Union officers in the Senate branch and prob
ably two ex-Confederate officers on the House
side If they should take charge of completing
the work it would be done with unquestioned
fairness. and at the same time the work could be
pushed much faster than is now possible. and
with great saving ever the present cost